TOWING and Daiji pilot eco-friendly vegetable sales using biochar

TOWING and Daiji Co., Ltd. are conducting test marketing for ‘Sasu-vege’, a brand of environmentally friendly vegetables grown using high-performance biochar known as ‘Sora-tan’. This initiative is part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s project to promote the creation of absorption and removal-type carbon credits in the agricultural sector.

Results from the 2025 autumn/winter crop demonstrated increased value, with producer take-home pay increasing by 15% to 20% compared to standard products. Retail prices for these vegetables also saw significant increases, ranging from 7% to 46% above conventional items. Additionally, fields treated with biochar showed a 1.3 to 1.4 times increase in yield.

Following these results, the companies are expanding cultivation areas and crop varieties for the 2026 spring/summer season, including peppers, eggplant, and lettuce. The goal is to establish a sustainable production and sales system that reduces CO2 emissions through carbon sequestration in soil while improving farmer profitability through higher yields and quality.